Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1992 Ford Escort, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system36
- Fuel system, gasoline35
- Seat belts28
- Vehicle speed control22
- Engine and engine cooling15
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Power train8
- Exterior lighting8
- Suspension7
- Unknown or other6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 10 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Engines
The most common engines in 1992 Ford Escort cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (108 kW, 145 hp), 1.4 petrol (51 kW, 68 hp) and 1.8 diesel (43 kW, 58 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 108 kW 145 hp | 27 |
| 1.4 petrol | 51 kW 68 hp | 23 |
| 1.8 diesel | 43 kW 58 hp | 23 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
162 first registered in 1992 are on Dutch roads; 25% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse6
- Band beschadigd6
- Richtingaanwijzers kleur wijkt af/niet toegestaan4
- Roestschade hoofdbalk4
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen4
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde3
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm3
- Accu ondeugdelijk bevestigd3
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
131 cars built in 1992 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,235 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 296 of these cars first registered in 1992 took their annual MOT test. 82% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1992 the figure was 68%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1992 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.4% | 16.8% |
| Brakes | 5.7% | 10.8% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.4% | 9.3% |
| Visibility | 4.1% | 6.9% |
| Suspension | 3.4% | 9.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 3.0% | 6.0% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
24 of these cars first registered in 1992 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 51,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
8 1992 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1992 Ford Escort.
| 1995031 21 Feb 1995 | Electrical NOTE: VEHICLES LOCATED IN ONTARIO, QUEBEC AND THE ATLANTIC PROVINCES. THE FUEL PUMP WIRING ASSEMBLY MAY CORRODE DUE TO ROAD SALT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ELEC… |
| 1993171 15 Dec 1993 | Structure NOTE: FORD ESCORT MONTREAL 350 ANNIVERSARY EDITION. THE REAR DECK SPOILER MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITHOUT A VINYL GASKET BETWEEN THE FOOT OF THE SPOILER PEDEST… |
| 1992121 29 Sept 1992 | Fuel System FATIGUE CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN TUBE AND THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS WOULD ALL… |
| 1992118 28 Sept 1992 | Brakes VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH STOP LAMP SWITCHES THAT POTENTIALLY COULD INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTION AND RESULT IN THE STOP LAMPS NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN THE BRAK… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
FATIGUE CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN TUBE AND THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK.
THE STOP LAMP SWITCHES COULD INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN THE STOP LAMPS NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1992 Ford Escort: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 627747 | THIS ARITLCE IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON REPLACEMENT OF OLD STYLE HOOD LAMP SWITCH TO THE RVISED MECHANICAL HOOD LAMP SWITCH. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622804 | SOME VEHICLES PRODUCED THROUGH JULY 1999 MAY EXHIBIT REAR SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURE WITH NO RESULTING OPERATIONAL CONCERN. *TT |
| 618599 | CONCERNS WITH PREMATURE FAILURE OCCURING ON THE 1.9L MOTORCRAFT REMANUFACTURED LONGBLOCK ASSEMBLY AND SHORTBLOCK ASSEMBLY DUE TO INGESTION OF FOREIGN OBJECTS REMAINING IN THE TRANSFERRED INTAKE SYSTEM FROM THE ORIGINAL FAILED ENGINE. *JB |
| 618596 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO REVISED DOOR LATCH SWITCH SERVICE PROCEDURE. *JB |
| 615270 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT BRIEF SPARK KNOCK ON ACCELERATION DURING HOT WEATHER ONCE THE ENGINE HAS THOROUGHLY WARMED UP. *TT |
| 614752 | ENGINEERING IS REVIEWING PASSIVE RESTRAINT (MOTORIZED SEATBELT) SYSTEMS IN CERTAIN VEHICLES. *TT |
| 613910 | SUBJECT REGARDING PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM SERVICE INFORMATION. *TT |
| 613860 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES REVISED PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE WORKSHOP MANUAL AND THE ELECTRICAL AND VACCUM TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL (EVTM). *TT |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 610796 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT GRINDING NOISE, OR GREATER THAN NORMAL BRAKE ROUGHNESS, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLING MOTORCRAFT FRONT BRAKE PAD PART NUMBER BR-18 (XU2Z-2V001-RA). *T |
| 610688 | BRIEF INFORMATION ON PASSIVE RESTRAINT (MOTORIZED SEATBELT) SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 609692 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT GRINDING NOISES, OR GREATER THAN NORMAL BRAKE ROUGHNESS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLING MOTORCRAFT BR-18 FRONT BRAKE PAD. *TT |
| 6090087 | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 6089681 | SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT |
| 608431 | INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT |
| 606508 | CONDITIONS WITH THE BRAKE LAMPS INADVERTENTLY DISABLING THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *TT |
| 606460 | EXPERIENCING A WHINE / BUZZ TYPE NOISE IN THE SPEAKERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT RADIO OR TWO-WAY RADIO ON VEHICLES WITH AN IN-TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. *TT |
| 606420 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOW RECOMMENDS SAE 5W-30 VISCOSITY GRADE FOR SERVICING ANY FORD GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR. *TT |
| 604059 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC |
| 603724 | MASS AIR FLOW (MAF)- SENSOR CONTAMINATION- SERVICE TIP. *AK |
| 601343 | A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL PUMP WIRING SHORTAGE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation